Spruce Scoop
Joy. Hope. Resilience.
September 30 - October 4, 2019
Principal Taylor's Message
Congratulations to Ms. Rudd!
H. Grady Spruce Teacher of the Year
Greetings Timberwolves,
Greetings Timberwolves,
We have met our first goal of successfully completing our 1st Six Weeks. As we enter October and the 2nd six weeks, energy may wane. October can be a trying month and because of this normal dip in energy our mantra of Be Elite in Your 20 Square Feet, is critical. As we all embrace the "20" it creates a synergy throughout the whole building that is palatable.
Newt Gingrich said, "Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you did already." We set the tone and model grit.
- Be diligent in executing our routines, expectations, and hallway culture
- Be prepared and planned for aligned, engaged 90/45 minute lessons
- Lean in to one another. Embrace levity and embrace solution oriented approaches.
The 2nd Six Weeks introduces increasingly difficult content, new content, and the pace of learning quickens. With this shift we will continue to model how scholars are accountable for their learning by challenging them through relevant, scaffolded lessons. With higher accountability comes the flip side of that, increased support/coaching/empowerment.
- Maximize PLC time
- Maximize planning time
- Adjust IPCs as needed to be responsive to what the data is revealing
- Utilize PowerSchool /Unified Classroom resources
- Be prepared and planned Every Day, All Day.
Have a phenomenal week!!
Be Elite in our 20 Square Feet!
If not YOU, WHO? If not NOW, WHEN?
Kindest Regard,
F. Taylor
Proudest Principal in DISD
Spruce: Important Need to Know
- Scholars are to reflect on their successes and challenges on the 1st Six weeks common assessment.
- Before moving forward ensure new goals have been established with specific scholar actions.
- The scholar actions may sound like: Studying at home 15 minutes a day, Attend tutoring once a week, Complete assignments during class, Pay attention in class and be on
Teacher moves:
- Participate in Look Forward PLC to identify high priority SEs, develop reteach plan with teacher teams.
- Tier scholars based on performance- develop intervention plans (tutoring,
- Contact parents of scholars that are to attend tutoring
Spruce Culture Advisory Team
Thank you to the following staff members for committing to this team that will advocate, advise, and plan to maintain positive culture @ Spruce.
Spruce Morale Team
2a : the mental and emotional condition (as of enthusiasm, confidence, or loyalty) of an individual or group with regard to the function or tasks at hand.
Morale is like a heart. Our morale heart, pumps energy and positivity that allow us to press forward and see the joy around us. I thank the team for being willing to support such an important part of our culture.
FIRST CLASS TARDY PASS AND TARDY SWEEPS
Rear Entrance (9:00 am to 9:20 am)
- Our late door entrance, rear of campus/upperclassmen entrance, is open from 9:00 to 9:20 am.
- Scholars will be given a colored tardy pass (see picture BELOW) with the time/date written on it by late door check in monitors (Rubio/McWhorter/Espinoza). We need this process to be fast and will only involve the monitor putting the time/date on the slip and sending scholars off to class. Students may pick up breakfast but they have the time/date stamped on their pass and are to move quickly to class (5-7 minutes).
- The late door (upperclassmen entrance) is closed at 9:20 am.
Front Door Entrance (9:21 am to 9:40 am)
- Scholars that arrive after 9:20 am enter through the front of the building and check in with Ms. Edison.
- Between 9:21 am and 9:40 am scholars will receive the colored tardy pass from Ms. Edison or designated staff member when she is absent.
- If a scholar arrives after 9:40 am they will sign into the Late to School Log and be escorted to ISS for the remainder of the period.
Teacher Moves:
- Every student that has arrived late should be allowed into class and still be marked tardy in attendance by you the teacher.
- Every* student should have a pass and show their teacher their pass upon entrance into class. ( * See exception below)
- Teachers should check the time on the pass against the time the student arrives in class to make sure it is reasonable. If not, teacher should follow-up accordingly with appropriate student interventions such as student conference, parent contact, etc.
- No teacher hallway passes allowed before 9:45 am. There are some scholars in the halls with pink passes, please let's NOT slip on this expectation.
- The color of the tardy pass will this week is PINK.
* exception - Keep in mind tardy passes will not begin being issued until 9 am. That means students arriving just minutes before 9 am will not be getting a pass yet will probably still be tardy to class. Please allow some leeway with students within the first 5 - 10 minutes of class time each day for not having a pass depending on what time they actually come through the metal detectors. This is a great opportunity to have a conversation with your student about not arriving at the last minute to school and being caught in this awkward situation of being asked for a pass and not having one.
TARDY SWEEPS THIS WEEK - 9/30
Monday - after the 2nd to 3rd transition (9/30)
Wednesday - after the 3rd to 4th transition (10/2)
At the end of these transition periods please lock your doors at the tardy bell and do not allow students in who do not have the tardy/detention pass as before. When they return to class with the pass, please allow them back in and mark them tardy in attendance.
First Six Weeks Grades -- Due 10/2
Grades are due by the end of day on Wednesday, October 2nd.
Remember:
- At least 2 grades for classwork per week (a total of 12 classwork grades)
- At least 3 major grades (tests, projects)
- Students must be given the opportunity to make up grades (see attached policy)
- Do not leave any student grade blank
- Do not give any student a grade above 100
Please reach out to Ms. Boyer if you have any questions!
Compliance Videos - Due Date 10/31
- Staff meetings (Tuesdays or Wednesdays, once a month)
- Sporting Events
- Fine & Performing Events
- Campus Wide Events
- Testing Days & Campus Testing Meetings
Staff meetings are subject to change. The goals is to communicate monthly staff meetings via the calendar and to have one a month.
Week of 9/30 Highlights
It is important that we recognize ALL the Excellence in Teaching occuring in all of areas of our academic programs. The highlights are on a weekly rotation throughout the year. Each content/department will be highlighted on a weekly basis.
Instructional Highlight Content/Department: JROTC
Catch a Timberwolf Staff member being ELITE in their 20 Square Feet, Joyful, Hopeful, Resilient, SEL Champion, or simply did or said something that was the spotlight of your day/week!
Thank you for taking a moment to highlight your fellow staff member! You made someone's day!!
Spotlight on Mrs. Palaparthi and Mrs. D La Garza
Spotlight on Ms. Diana Williams
I appreciate her mentoring through mountains of paperwork and having the patience to let me learn.
Spotlight on Ms. Amaro
On behalf of the Social Studies department, we would like to thank Ms. Amaro for all of her time and dedication to our students. She is always smiling, always kind, and always willing to help both students and staff members in need. Spruce will miss you dearly. Best wishes on your new adventure. Hope to see you soon.
Spotlight on Ms.Walker-Reed
I want to give Ms. Tracie Walker-Reed a spotlight. She wears a lot of hats at Spruce, and she is always helpful to everybody. She treats everyone fair, and will assist when needed. When I am away from the copy room doing my inclusion assignments, she takes the initiative to run some of the copies and issue out supplies. Although her title says Librarian, she also takes the time out to mentor other teachers/staff, and gives out positive feedback with solutions. Ms. Reed is works behind the scenes on different projects, and will find a solution for difficult problems. Thank you Ms. Reed for your dedication at H. Grady Spruce High School.
Spotlight on Mr. Crawford
A huge thank you to Mr. Crawford for helping sweep the early college wing and counseling students through whatever challenges they may be facing. He's been an incredible addition to ensuring that all students are focused, driven and reaching their destinations- both in terms of their classes and life goals.
Spotlight on World Languages Dept.
I would like to thank the other members of the World Languages Department for sharing their desperately needed supplies with me in my project week. It was greatly appreciated and definitely made my week.
Spotlight on Mr. Cooper
Mr Cooper opened up his classroom and hosted the ACT Training sessions this week! Thank you Mr Cooper for sharing your space with all of us and making us feel welcomed!
Spotlight on World Languages Team
I would like to put our World Languages teachers in the Spotlight for adapting tirelessly to our school students. Their dedication and patience is invaluable.
Please if you see them on the hall congratulate them for their perseverance and joyful resilience.
Ryan Lloyd
Catherine Cazabon
Brent Guinn
Valentina Suez
WAIP information that is specific to an individual, team, grade, content, will be emailed directly.
Mr. Sharp
Ms. Cortez
Ms. Burleson
In case you missed Woosah Wednesday!
Being Greek @ Spruce :-)!
Staff Parking in Rear
MANDATORY CLOCK IN
- Monitors & Parking Attendant: 7:30 am
- Administrators: 7:50 am
- Clerks: 8:00 am
- Teacher Assistants: Ranger 7:30, 8:00, or 8:15
- Teachers: 8:15 am
8:20 AM Duty Begins
Please be at duty post ready to go a couple minutes early so that doors are opened at 8:20am. Teamwork makes the Dream Work!!
Monthly Fire Drills
BEFORE THE DRILL:
· Review the e-mailed evacuation map for your floor;
· Review the e-mailed color-coded buddy system and find your buddy teacher/staff member; and
· Print a copy of the attendance rosters.
DURING THE DRILL:
· Use the proper stairway/exit,
· Exit the building quickly and orderly with students,
· Take attendance and ensure that all students are present once outside,
· Communicate to your buddy and person in charge of your stairwell if a student is missing, and
· Wait for the bell to ring before re-entering the building.
AFTER THE DRILL:
· Use the proper stairway/re-entry point,
· Enter the building quickly and orderly with class,
· Report DIRECTLY back to class with students,
· Take attendance and ensure that all your students returned to class, and
· Reset class and resume teaching and learning.
H. Grady Spruce High School
Located in the heart of the Pleasant Grove region of Dallas, Texas, H. Grady Spruce High School serves a diverse population of students and their families. Our neighborhood maintains a strong tradition of community, hard work, and pride. Families have made Pleasant Grove their home for generations, and many of our students can claim a legacy of Spruce alumnae that go back to the founding of the school.
H. Grady Spruce High School was built in 1963, replacing Rylie High School. The school is named for Henry Grady Spruce, a native of Omen, Texas, who earned degrees from Southern Methodist University and the University of Chicago. He devoted much of his 35-year YMCA career to youth, including 25 years as director of the Dallas YMCA's Camp Crockett near Granbury.
Email: frataylor@dallasisd.org
Website: https://www.dallasisd.org/spruce
Location: 9733 Old Seagoville Road, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: 972-892-5500